Coordination of appearance and motion data for virtual view generation of traditional dances

A novel method is proposed for virtual view generation of traditional dances. In the proposed framework, a traditional dance is captured separately for appearance registration and motion registration. By coordinating the appearance and motion data, we can easily control virtual camera motion within a dancer-centered coordinate system. For this purpose, a coordination problem should be solved between the appearance and motion data, since they are captured separately and the dancer moves freely in the room. The present paper shows a practical algorithm to solve it. A set of algorithms are also provided for appearance and motion registration, and virtual view generation from archived data. In the appearance registration, a 3D human shape is recovered in each time from a set of input images after suppressing their backgrounds. By combining the recovered 3D shape and a set of images for each time, we can compose archived dance data. In the motion registration, stereoscopic tracking is accomplished for color markers placed on the dancer. A virtual view generation is formalized as a color blending among multiple views, and a novel and efficient algorithm is proposed for the composition of a natural virtual view from a set of images. In the proposed method, weightings of the linear combination are calculated from both an assumed viewpoint and a surface normal.</p

Role of the rasGAP-associated docking protein p62^(dok) in negative regulation of B cell receptor-mediated signaling

Antigenic stimulation of the B-cell receptor (BCR) is a central event in the immune response. In contrast, antigen bound to IgG negatively regulates signals from the BCR by cross-linking it to the inhibitory receptor FcγRIIB. Here we show that upon cross-linking of BCR or BCR with FcγRIIB, the rasGAP-associated protein p62^(dok) is prominently tyrosine phosphorylated in a Lyn-dependent manner. Inactivation of the dok gene by homologous recombination has shown that upon BCR cross-linking, p62^(dok) suppresses MAP kinase and is indispensable for FcγRIIB-mediated negative regulation of cell proliferation. We propose that p62^(dok), a downstream target of many PTKs, plays a negative role in various signaling situations

Continuing surgical education of non-technical skills

Background The non-technical skills for surgeons (NOTSS) system was developed as a tool to assess surgical skills for patient safety during surgery. This study aimed to develop a NOTSS-based training system for surgical trainees to acquire non-technical skills using a chest surgery scenario in a wet lab. Materials and methods Trainees were categorized into three subgroups according to the years of experience as follows: Level A: 6 years or more; Level B: 3–5 years; and Level C: 1–2 years. Three stages of surgical procedure were designed: 1. chest wall resection and right upper lobe lobectomy, 2. right middle lobe sleeve lobectomy, and 3. right lower lobe lobectomy. One instructor was assigned to each operation table, who evaluated each participant's NOTSS scores consisting of 16 elements. Results When comparing average NOTSS score of all the three procedures, significant differences were observed between Level A, B, and C trainees. As an example of varying elements by procedure, Level A trainees demonstrated differences in Situation Awareness, and a significant difference was observed in Level C trainees regarding the elements of Decision Making. On the contrary, no significant difference was observed among Level B trainees. In the comparison between first-time and experienced participants, a significant improvement was observed in some elements in Level B and C trainees. Conclusion This study highlights the usefulness and feasibility of the NOTSS scoring system for surgeons with different experiences and the effectiveness of providing feedback to trainees during intraoperative handoffs in a wet lab

Cystoid Macular Edema following Treatment with Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel and Atezolizumab for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a rare side effect associated with chemotherapy. Although the development of CME has been reported to occur following treatment with taxane drugs, such as nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (Nab-PTX), the occurrence of CME with treatment with atezolizumab has not yet been reported. Here, we report the case of a 49-year-old woman who developed CME 19 months into chemotherapy with Nab-PTX and atezolizumab. Improvement was not achieved with steroid injections into the Tenon’s sac, and Nab-PTX and atezolizumab treatments were ceased. One month later, there was subjective improvement in her symptoms. Although many reports have indicated that cessation of chemotherapy has successfully improved CME, a specific treatment for CME has not yet been established. Clinicians should be aware of the ophthalmologic side effects and offer immediate treatment if symptoms develop

National survey of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: The Japanese catheter ablation registry of atrial fibrillation (J-CARAF)

AbstractTo assess the current status of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in Japan, the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society (JHRS) instituted a national registry, the Japanese Catheter Ablation Registry of AF (J-CARAF).MethodsUsing an online questionnaire, the JHRS invited electrophysiology centers in Japan to voluntarily and retrospectively register data regarding the AF ablation procedures performed in September, 2011.ResultsA total of 128 centers submitted data regarding AF ablation procedures in 932 patients (age 62.1±10.4 years; male 76.8%; paroxysmal AF 65.7%, CHADS2 score 1.0±1.0). The majority received oral anticoagulant therapy during and following the procedure (68.9% and 97.5%, respectively). Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was performed in 97.5% of the patients; ipsilateral encircling PVI was the preferred technique (79.7%). Three-dimensional (3D) mapping systems and irrigated-tip catheters were used in 94.8% and 87.7% of the procedures, respectively. Ablation methods other than PVI were performed in 78.8% of all the patients and 73.5% of the patients with paroxysmal AF. Acute complications were reported in 6.2% of the patients, but no early deaths were recorded.ConclusionsIpsilateral encircling PVI, using 3D mapping and irrigated-tip catheters, is the standard AF ablation method in Japan. However, adjunctive ablations were performed frequently, even in patients with paroxysmal AF

Structural and functional insights into thermally stable cytochrome c' from a thermophile

Thermophilic Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus cytochrome c0 (PHCP) exhibits higher thermal stability than a mesophilic counterpart, Allochromatium vinosum cytochrome c0 (AVCP), which has a homo-dimeric structure and ligand-binding ability. To understand the thermal stability mechanism and ligand-binding ability of the thermally stable PHCP protein, the crystal structure of PHCP was first determined. It formed a homo-dimeric structure, the main chain root mean square deviation (rmsd) value between PHCP and AVCP being 0.65 A ° . In the PHCP structure, six specific residues appeared to strengthen the heme-related and subunit–subunit interactions, which were not conserved in the AVCP structure. PHCP variants having altered subunit–subunit interactions were more severely destabilized than ones having altered heme-related interactions. The PHCP structure further revealed a ligand-binding channel and a penta-coordinated heme, as observed in the AVCP protein. A spectroscopic study clearly showed that some ligands were bound to the PHCP protein. It is concluded that the dimeric PHCP from the thermophile is effectively stabilized through heme-related and subunit–subunit interactions with conservation of the ligand-binding ability.This work was performed under the Cooperative Research Program of the “Network Joint Research Center for Materials and Devices”

Early Intensive Nutrition Intervention with Dietary Counseling and Oral Nutrition Supplement Prevents Weight Loss in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: A Clinical Prospective Study

【Background】 Weight loss in patients with cancer is caused by cancer cachexia and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Recent developments in antiemetic drugs have substantially improved CINV, but nutritional intervention did not improve body weight. This study aimed to investigate the effects of nutrition intervention with appropriate antiemetic treatment in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer during chemotherapy. 【Methods】 Patients received individualized nutrition counseling by a registered dietitian and were provided with oral supplements for 90 days. Body weight and other parameters were measured at baseline and after 90-day intervention. To evaluate this nutrition intervention, patients were also retrospectively set as control, and then body weight change was compared with inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) analysis. 【Results】 Ten patients received individualized nutrition counseling and were provided with oral supplements for 90 days. Of them, 7 patients consumed nutritional supplements, and the mean intake was 130 kcal/day. After 90-day intervention, the patients did not show significant weight and BMI loss during the course of cytotoxic chemotherapy. A total of 38 patients were retrospectively enrolled as controls. The number of the patients who gain the body weight after 90 days in the study cohort was significantly larger than that in the retrospective controls with the IPTW analysis (Odds Ratio (OR) = 8.4; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.6-42; P = 0.01). 【Conclusion】 Early intensive nutrition intervention with appropriate antiemetic treatment prevents weight loss. Nutrition interventions might be also beneficial for quality of life, treatment response and survival

Interplay between crystal electric field and magnetic exchange anisotropies in the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet YbRhSb under pressure

We report the pressure effect on the magnetic ground state of the heavy-fermion (HF) canted antiferromagnet YbRhSb (orthorhombic ɛ-TiNiSi-type) by means of magnetization and resistivity measurements using a single crystal. At ambient pressure, this compound undergoes a transition at TM1=2.7 K into a canted antiferromagnetic (AF) state with a small spontaneous moment of 3×10-3 μB/Yb. With increasing pressure P above 1 GPa, another magnetic transition occurs at TM2 above TM1, and TM1(P) has a deep minimum of 2.5 K at 1.7 GPa. For P≥2 GPa, the canted AF structure changes to a ferromagnetic (FM) one, where a large moment 0.4 μB/Yb lies in the orthorhombic b-c plane and a metamagnetic transition occurs at B || a = 1.5 T. This unusual FM state below TM3≅4.3 K is ascribed to the balance between the single-ion crystalline electric field (CEF) anisotropy with easy direction || a and the intersite exchange interaction with easy b-c plane. Furthermore, we have investigated the pressure dependence of TM3 up to 20.4 GPa using electrical resistivity measurements. The structural stability under pressures up to 19 GPa was examined by x-ray diffraction. We find that TM3 above 2.5 GPa steeply increases up to about 7 K, showing a broad maximum and then slightly decreases with increasing pressure above 8 GPa, while the structure remains unchanged. We attribute the enhancement of TM3 above 2.5 GPa to an increase of the CEF anisotropy with respect to magnetic exchange anisotropy. Finally, we compare and discuss the volume dependence of magnetic phase diagram of YbRhSb with the isostructural HF ferromagnet YbNiSn